A British man who died after a Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence has been named as Geoffrey Kitchen.
The Thornbury Musical Theatre Group, where the 73-year-old worked for 35 years, most recently as its director, is among those paying tribute to Mr Kitchen, praising him as a “gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity”.
Mr Kitchen was travelling with his wife when he died on board the Boeing 777-300ER plane, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok en route to Singapore from London on Tuesday.
A spokesman for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport said a British man suffered a suspected heart attack on the aircraft, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, while seven people are fighting for their lives in hospital, and dozens more were injured.
Singapore Airlines said the flight encountered “sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet about 10 hours after departure and the pilot declared a medical emergency, with flight tracking data showing the plane plummeted 6,000 feet in a matter of minutes.
Were you on the flight? Email holly.evans@independent.co.uk
Key Points
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Musical director named as Briton killed in Singapore Airline turbulence
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Musical theatre group pay tribute to ‘gentleman’ Geoff Kitchen
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Flight hit ‘sudden extreme turbulence’ and medical emergency declared, says airline
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Seven people are fighting for their lives, official says
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Flight makes emergency landing in Bangkok after departing from Heathrow
Tributes paid to British man, 73, who died after turbulence on Heathrow flight
22:33 , Tara Cobham
Tributes have been paid to a 73-year-old British man who died after severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow Airport.
The passenger, named as Geoff Kitchen, suffered a suspected heart attack on the flight, according to a spokesman for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the plane was diverted to.
The spokesman added that seven other people were seriously injured, with dozens more suffering minor injuries.
Neil Lancefield reports:
Tributes paid to British man, 73, who died after turbulence on Heathrow flight
Musical theatre group pay tribute to ‘gentleman’ Geoff Kitchen
20:59 , Barney Davis
Thornbury Musical Theatre Group said in a Facebook post: “It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the devastating news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Air Incident.
“Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group.
“His commitment to TMTG was unquestionable and he has served the group and the local community of
“Thornbury for over 35 years, holding various offices within the group, including Chairman, Treasurer and most recently Secretary.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and the family at this difficult time, and we ask that you respect their privacy.”
Wife of Geoffrey Kitchen ‘in surgery’ neighbours say
20:48 , Barney Davis
Geoffrey Kitchen had recently worked hard campaigning for the reopening of the town’s Armstrong Hall, and he was much respected in the community.
He and his wife Linda had departed for a six week holiday when the tragedy happened, his neighbour Steve Dimond said.
They have a son who runs a window cleaning business in Thornbury and a daughter. Mr Dimond, who knew Mr Kitchen for around 11 years, said his wife broke the news to his son before police arrived.
He said: “We are worried about his wife Linda because she is in hospital undergoing surgery. We don’t know how serious that is.”
Asked about Mr Kitchen, he said: “A really nice bloke, loved live music and the theatre. I can remember him dressed as a sultan in the panto this year, funny, good singer, a nice bloke. Very sociable.”
Musical director named as Brit killed in Singapore Airline turbulence
20:39 , Alex Ross
Geoffrey Kitchen was a retired insurance professional who devoted much of his time to Thornbury Musical Theatre, where he had been director since 2020.
Only last week he had been helping preparations for the group’s upcoming show, Journey Back To The Future, which neighbour and co-member Steve Dimond told The Independent would be dedicated to him.
Speaking from his home a few doors down from Mr Kitchen’s three-bedroom home in a cul-de-sac in Thornbury, just outside Bristol, Mr Dimond said: “We will continue with the next show which will likely be done in his name.
“I’m really shocked, he’ll be badly missed. He was a kind man who in recent years, after retirement, had loved the musical theatre.”
Passenger tells of ‘awful screaming’ on flight hit by severe turbulence
20:30 , Tara Cobham
A passenger on the Singapore Airlines flight which was hit by severe turbulence has told of “awful screaming” on the plane.
Another said everyone not wearing a seatbelt was “launched immediately into the ceiling” when the turbulence occurred.
A British passenger died and many other people were injured when the flight from Heathrow encountered severe turbulence.
Sam Hall reports:
Passenger tells of ‘awful screaming’ on flight hit by severe turbulence
US NTSB to send advisors to support probe into Singapore Airlines flight
19:46 , Tara Cobham
The US National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday it will send an accredited representative and four technical advisors to support Singapore’s investigation into a severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines Flight 321.
Under an international aviation treaty, the NTSB can take part as a representative since the plane was built by Boeing . The investigation will be led by the Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.
Watch: Passengers carried out on stretchers from Singapore Airlines flight
19:00 , Tara Cobham
Passengers carried out on stretchers from Singapore Airlines flight after turbulence
Four Irish citizens on board Singapore flight which hit severe turbulence
18:29 , Tara Cobham
Four Irish people were on board a Singapore Airlines flight from London in which one person died and many others were injured when the plane hit severe turbulence.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that four Irish citizens were on the flight, but it is not yet known whether they were among the many injured people.
A department spokeswoman said: “We are aware that four Irish citizens were on board.
“The Embassy is in close contact with the relevant Thai authorities and stands ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.”
Singapore Airlines team from Singapore arrives in Bangkok
18:12 , Tara Cobham
A Singapore Airlines team from Singapore has arrived in Bangkok.
In an update issued on Tuesday evening, the airline said: “A Singapore Airlines team from Singapore has arrived in Bangkok to support our colleagues and the local authorities on the ground. We are providing all possible assistance to the passengers and crew on board SQ321, both at the hospital and the airport.”
Watch: Injured passengers treated on airport tarmac
18:06 , Tara Cobham
UK Foreign Office responding to emergency landing of flight
17:37 , Tara Cobham
The UK Foreign Office is responding to the emergency landing in Bangkok of the Singapore Airlines flight.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are responding to the emergency landing in Bangkok of a Singapore Airlines flight and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Singapore will be probing incident
17:35 , Tara Cobham
Singapore will be probing the incident after a Singapore Airlines plane hit severe turbulence.
Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) will be deploying investigators to Bangkok, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Watch: Inside Singapore Airlines flight after British man dies following severe turbulence
17:00 , Tara Cobham
‘Accidents of this nature are extremely rare,’ reassures UK Civil Aviation Authority
16:55 , Tara Cobham
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has offered reassurance that “accidents of this nature are extremely rare” after a 73-year-old British man died on board a flight in severe turbulence.
A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Our deepest condolences go out to all those who have been affected.
“Accidents of this nature are extremely rare and aviation remains one of the safest forms of travel.”
Downing Street issues statement on incident after British passenger dies
16:33 , Tara Cobham
Responding to reports that a British passenger has died and many others were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow hit severe turbulence, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts continue to be with all those affected, including with that individual’s family.”
The Foreign Office is understood to be on the ground to provide support and work with local authorities.
What is turbulence and can it cause your plane to crash?
16:30 , Tara Cobham
Encounters with extreme turbulence while in the air can be terrifying. During one recent example of a severe incident, a 73-year-old British man with a suspected heart condition died and 30 were injured on a Singapore Airlines flight from London, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok.
In the last year, there have been numerous incidents, from eight passengers requiring medical assistance after their plane was struck on the way to Portugal to a British Airways flight that hit such strong severe turbulence over the Bay of Bengal that pilots had to return to the airport they’d just departed from, with several members of cabin crew reporting injuries.
Even seasoned fliers can, at times, get spooked by the mid-flight bumps and shakes, though in reality the vast majority of cases will be nothing more serious than a jiggle to your in-flight meal.
Helen Coffey reports:
What is turbulence and can it cause your plane to crash?
These are the world’s most turbulent flight routes
16:20 , Tara Cobham
Turbulence is the worst part of flying for many people. Though it’s a phenomenon that happens surprisingly regularly, it can often be alarming – one that can strike fear into even the most seasoned flyers.
But is is often misunderstood; it provides very little threat to modern commercial aircraft, with most injuries occurring when people aren’t strapped into their seats.
Turbulence is defined by the US National Weather Service as a phenomenon that is “caused by abrupt, irregular movements of air that create sharp, quick updrafts and downdrafts” that “occur in combinations and move aircraft unexpectedly”.
Chris Wilson reports:
The world’s most turbulent flight routes
In pictures: On board Singapore Airlines flight that hit ‘sudden, extreme turbulence’
16:07 , Tara Cobham
Some 47 passengers on Singapore Airlines flight from UK
15:59 , Tara Cobham
Some 47 passengers who were on board the terrifying Singapore Airlines flight are from the UK, the airline has said.
There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
In an update issued on Tuesday afternoon, the airline said the nationalities of the passengers are as follows: 47 from the UK, 56 from Australia, 2 from Canada, 1 from Germany, 3 from India, 2 from Indonesia, 1 from Iceland, 4 from Ireland, 1 from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, 2 from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, 5 from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, 1 from South Korea, 2 from Spain, and 4 from the US.
Flight hit ‘sudden extreme turbulence’ and medical emergency declared, says airline
15:53 , Tara Cobham
The diverted Singapore Airlines flight hit “sudden, extreme turbulence” over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet about 10 hours after departure, the airline has said.
The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time, it added in an update issued on Tuesday afternoon.
The sequence of events is not made clear in the statement.
Photo shows passenger being carried on stretcher at Bangkok airport
15:46 , Tara Cobham
A dramatic photo from the scene shows a passenger being carried on a stretcher at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Tuesday.
A Singapore Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing there due to severe turbulence.
‘The plane suddenly dropped’: Passenger tells of terrifying Singapore Airlines flight
15:31 , Tara Cobham
A passenger from London said the seat belt sign came on, he followed the instruction, and “at that very moment, the plane suddenly dropped”.
The passenger, who gave his name as Andrew, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The thing I remember the most is seeing objects and things flying through the air.
“I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence.”
He heard “awful screaming” as the plane was dropping, and what “sounded like a thud”.
Dramatic pictures reveal chaos on Singapore Airlines plane
15:21 , Tara Cobham
Dramatic pictures shared on social media have revealed the chaos onboard a Singapore Airlines flight after a British passenger was killed during severe turbulence.
Images show damage to the ceiling of the cabin, with oxygen masks and debris strewn across the seats while food and cutlery can be seen on the floor. In one image, a female air stewardess can be seen with blood on her face, while her male colleague appears dishevelled and shocked after they were forced to drop 6,000ft within minutes.
Holly Evans reports:
Dramatic pictures reveal chaos on plane after turbulence killed British passenger
Briton describes screams and lacerations on chaotic flight
15:09 , Tara Cobham
A British passenger has described the carnage onboard the Singapore flight that dropped rapidly in turbulence killing one person and injuring dozens more.
The Boeing 777-300ER plane was en route from Heathrow to Singapore carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew when it made the emergency landing in Bangkok, the airline said in a statement. Seven of the 30 people wounded during the flight are seriously injured, Bangkok airport’s general manager told a news conference on Wednesday.
Passenger Andrew Davies, from Lewisham, south London, has described passengers performing CPR on a “poor gentleman” and calling for a defibrillator.
Barney Davis reports:
Briton describes screams and chaos on flight that plunged 6,000ft in fatal turbulence
Boeing in touch with Singapore Airlines
15:04 , Tara Cobham
Boeing said it was in touch with Singapore Airlines and was ready to provide support. It referred further questions to the airline and local authorities.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew,” it said.
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15:01 , Tara Cobham
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Ambulances race to Singapore Airlines plane after emergency landing
14:48 , Andy Gregory
Ambulances were filmed rushing to the Singapore Airlines plane after it diverted to make an emergency landing in Bangkok due to severe turbulence.
You can read more details here.
Wife of man who died aboard flight is at hospital, official says
14:38 , Andy Gregory
The wife of the British man who died during the flight is at the hospital in Bangkok and was being assessed by medics, Airports of Thailand general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn said.
Person who died aboard plane was 73-year-old British man, Thai official says
14:22 , Andy Gregory
The person who died aboard the flight was a 73-year-old British man, the manager of Bangkok airport told reporters.
He is believed to have had some medical problems, which may have led to cardiac arrest, said the airport’s general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn.
Around 100 passengers should continue journey to Singapore today, airport official says
14:10 , Andy Gregory
Around 100 of the 211 passengers on board the flight should be set to continue their journey to Singapore today, Bangkok airport’s general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn told a news conference.
Seven people sustained serious injuries, official says
14:04 , Andy Gregory
Seven of the 30 people wounded during the flight are seriously injured, Bangkok airport’s general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn has told a news conference.
One person dead and 30 injured during flight, Singapore Airlines says
14:01 , Andy Gregory
Thirty people were injured on the flight, Bangkok airport authorities have said at a press conference.
“It was chaotic but most of the passengers received small injuries on their heads,” an official told reporters.
The passengers were evacuated promptly and authorities did their best to transport them to the hospital, they said.
Image show food strewn across floor of flight
13:55 , Andy Gregory
Images on social media have shown food strewn across the floor with ambulances lined up outside the aircraft, while one traumatised passenger said that people were launched into the ceiling.
Fatality is first on Singapore Airlines flight since 2000
13:39 , Andy Gregory
Singapore Airlines, which is widely recognised as one of world’s leading airlines and is a benchmark for much of the industry, has not had any major incidents in recent years.
Its last accident resulting in casualties was a flight in October 2000 from Singapore to Los Angeles via Taipei, where it crashed into construction equipment on the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport after attempting to take off from the wrong runway. The crash killed 83 of the 179 people on board.
Turbulence accounts for over a third of reported airline accidents, US study suggests
13:24 , Andy Gregory
Turbulence-related airline accidents are the most common type, according to a 2021 study by the National Transportation Safety Board.
From 2009 through 2018, the US agency found that turbulence accounted for more than a third of reported airline accidents and most resulted in one or more serious injuries, but no aircraft damage.
Medics boarded plane after emergency landing
13:10 , Andy Gregory
Thai immigration police said medics had boarded the plane to assess injuries, but could not confirm the number.
Uninjured passengers have disembarked, police said.
Incident follows two British Airways staff being injured in turbulence last year
12:55 , Andy Gregory
The incident comes a year after two British Airways cabin crew suffered broken legs when a flight from Singapore to Heathrow last June was affected by severe turbulence over the Bay of Bengal.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said “unsecured cabin crew were thrown around in the cabin”, resulting in two crew members being seriously injured and three sustaining minor injuries.
No passengers were hurt and the plane returned to Singapore.
How often does this sort of incident happen?
12:46 , Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent
One study suggests aircraft encounter severe clear air turbulence at least 790 times a year, which works out at once every 11 hours. But climate researchers say the incidence at a typical point over the North Atlantic increased by 55 per cent between 1979 and 2020.
According to Paul Williams, Professor of Atmospheric Science in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, a doubling of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere would increase the average amount of severe clear air turbulence at 36,000 feet over the North Atlantic by 149 per cent. As a result, hazardous turbulence on commercial flights could become twice or even three times more common than it is today – with five serious cases a day on average.
Environmentalists will say that airline passengers are causing the very problems that they are alarmed about – since aviation contributes to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
Plane dropped 6,000 feet in three minutes, tracking data suggests
12:37 , Andy Gregory
Tracking data captured by FlightRadar24 and analysed by The Associated Press showed the Singapore Airlines flight cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet.
However the data then showed the the Boeing 777 suddenly and sharply pitching down to 31,000 feet over the space of around three minutes.
The aircraft stayed at 31,000 feet for just under 10 minutes before rapidly descending and landing in Bangkok in just under half an hour.
Passenger says ‘very dramatic drop’ launched people ‘immediately into the ceiling’
12:29 , Andy Gregory
A passenger travelling on the diverted flight has described a “very dramatic drop” which launched everyone without a seatbelt on “immediately into the ceiling” – in some instances denting the overhead lockers.
“Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling,” Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on board the flight told Reuters.
“Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it.”
Which route was flight SQ321 travelling when it encountered severe turbulence?
12:16 , Andy Gregory
Here is the route which flight SQ321 was travelling when it was diverted to Bangkok.
What is clear-air turbulence?
12:14 , Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent
The US National Weather Service says: “Turbulence is caused by abrupt, irregular movements of air that create sharp, quick updrafts/downdrafts. These updrafts and downdrafts occur in combinations and move aircraft unexpectedly.”
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines clear-air turbulence as “sudden severe turbulence occurring in cloudless regions that causes violent buffeting of aircraft … CAT is especially troublesome because it is often encountered unexpectedly and frequently without visual clues to warn pilots of the hazard.”
Singapore Airlines statement in full
12:07 , Andy Gregory
Here is the airline’s statement in full:
“Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time.
“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
“Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance, and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed.
“We will provide regular updates on our Facebook and X accounts.”
Is it unusual for there to be a fatality as a result of turbulence?
12:06 , Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent
Yes, very rare. But injuries on board an aircraft can be alarming.
Writing for the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), former pilot and flight safety specialist Steve Landells says: “The injuries we see tend to occur when people aren’t strapped in. This may be because the turbulence is encountered without warning but we also see quite a lot of people hurt because they don’t obey the ‘fasten seat belt’ instructions.”
Cabin crew are particularly vulnerable.
Full report: One person killed and multiple injured in severe turbulence on flight from UK
12:04 , Andy Gregory
One passenger has reportedly been killed and several others have been injured after a flight from London to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence.
The Singapore Airlines flight was forced to carry out an emergency landing in Thailand, where it made an emergency landing shortly before 4pm local time.
The flight departed from Heathrow airport on Monday evening before hitting bad weather conditions.
My colleagues Holly Evans and Simon Calder have the breaking report, which you can refresh for updates:
One person killed in severe turbulence on flight from UK to Singapore
12:02 , Andy Gregory
Hello, we’ll be using this blog to bring you live updates after a Singapore Airlines flight from London was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok due to severe turbulence, with reports of a fatality and multiple injuries on board.
